Birds and burns of the interior West: descriptions, habitats, and management in western forests.

Pyrodiversity promotes avian diversity over the decade following forest fire

“…Variable selection was conducted a priori based on prior experience modelling species occurrence over a wide variety of post-fire forest conditions in the Sierra Nevada [41] as well as focused studies of habitat usage by birds in other western post-fire ecosystems (e.g. [42]). Specific variables chosen included: (i) elevation, derived from a 30 m California digital elevation model [43]; (ii) number of years since fire (range 1-10 years); (iii) pre-fire per cent tree canopy cover, calculated by averaging midpoints of mean per cent tree cover within 100 m buffers around survey points (derived from 100 m resolution California Multi-source Land Cover Data: http://frap.cdf.ca.gov/data/frapgisdatasw-fveg_download.php), and (iv) burn severity, as measured by change in per cent canopy cover based on the satellite-derived, relativized difference normalized burn ratio score [44] provided by the USDA Forest Service (J. D. Miller 2015, personal communication).…”

Effects of fuel reduction on bird density and reproductive success in riparian areas of mixed-conifer forest in southwest Oregon

“…Bêche et al (2005), in a similar study in the Sierra Nevada, found that prescribed fire in the riparian had no or very near-term (<1 year) effect on abiotic and biotic parameters, including riparian vegetation and large woody debris. Saab et al (2007) in a literature synthesis found a greater bird response to prescribed fire during the treatment year than in the following year, suggesting an immediate but short-term response.…”

“…For managers to make decisions about conducting fuel reduction in riparian areas, information on how and why these activities influence bird communities is needed. Postfire changes in bird communities have been associated with vegetation structure (Saab et al, 2007;Seavy, 2006), nest site availability (Hutto, 1995), food availability (Alexander et al, 2004;Apfelbaum and Haney, 1981;Bolger et al, 2005), and predator and nest parasite abundance (Alexander et al, 2004;Martin, 1988).…”

Historical fire and vegetation dynamics in dry forests of the interior Pacific Northwest, USA, and relationships to Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) habitat conservation

“…Published by Elsevier B.V. Ager et al, 2007;Campbell et al, 2007;Saab et al, 2007;Shatford et al, 2007;Thompson et al, 2007). In addition, the NSO faces other novel challenges such as the threat from the barred owl (Strix varia) and West Nile virus (Flavivirus sp.).…”